Super Wild Card expert selections: What’s the pick? Cowboys or Packers?
The Dallas Cowboys opened as 7.5-point favorites to beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in their Super Wild Card matchup at AT&T Stadium.
Both teams ended their seasons with wins: The Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 38-10 on the road and the Packers topped the Chicago Bears 17-9 at home.
The Cowboys are seen as one of the best teams in the NFC and as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Do pundits think Green Bay can pull off the upset?
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
This should be a high-flying affair with both offenses rolling up big numbers. I think Jordan Love is playing outstanding football and Dak Prescott is as well. The pressure is firmly on Prescott and the Cowboys. That’s why I see the loose Packers and Love making a game of this. The Cowboys will win it, but it’s close.
Prediction: Cowboys 33, Packers 31
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
Jordan Love has a promising career as Rodgers’ successor and he gave Green Bay a ton of long-term confidence this season. But he’s also young and can be mistake-prone and is also operating with inexperienced receivers. The Cowboys’ pass rush and secondary is well positioned to make key stops here. Meanwhile, the Packers’ messy pass defense returns as Dak Prescott picks it apart with plenty more of CeeDee Lamb and a variety of downfield targets.
Prediction: Cowboys win 33-17 and cover the spread.
Adam Burke, Vegas Stats & Information Network
The Cowboys defense was also consistently solid throughout the season, finishing in the top 10 in EPA/play in the back half of the year, while Green Bay’s body of work was less productive as the season wore on. The offense took a step forward, but the defense did not. So, that’s the worry here, as defensive coordinator Joe Barry tries to slow down the Dallas offense led by former Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
Alex Ballentine, Bleacher Report
The Cowboys have been favored by seven or more eight times this season, per Team Rankings. In seven of those eight games, they’ve won by at least 14 points. By in large, when Dallas has looked like the much better team on paper, they have come through.
Even though this is a playoff matchup, it’s still fairly lopsided on paper. The result should reflect that.
Prediction: Cowboys win by two touchdowns
Brian Blewis, Pro Football Network
As impressive as Jordan Love has looked in the second half of this season, this Packers offense is really young and inexperienced, which doesn’t bode well against a Cowboys team that makes the playoffs almost every season.
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
The Cowboys went 8-0 at AT&T Stadium this season. They were the NFL’s only team to not lose at home. The Packers enter the postseason having won three in a row, but the Cowboys at home are entirely different from the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Packers 20
Bill Speros, Bookies.com
The Cowboys are on a 16-0 run at home. And Dallas is 4-2 ATS on lines of more than 7 points, and 5-2 when you add the extra half-point. Jordan Love came through against the Bears to clinch Green Bay’s playoff berth. He’s emerged as a franchise QB this season. But Dak and the ‘Boys have much to prove this season, starting now in the playoffs.
Enzo Flojo, Clutch Points
Yes, Jordan Love’s promising season has instilled long-term confidence in Green Bay. Still, his youth and occasional mistakes, coupled with inexperienced receivers, pose challenges. Take note that the Cowboys have a formidable pass rush and a strong secondary. They are well-positioned to exploit Green Bay’s vulnerabilities.
Bill Barnwell, ESPN
It’s inevitable that the Cowboys will get pressure on Love. He’s the fifth-best passer in the league by QBR under duress, but he and the Packers went 4-6 when opposing defense pressured him more than 25% of the time. The Cowboys hit that mark 14 times in 17 games. Love will make a big play or two, but the Cowboys will wear down the Packers and coordinator Joe Barry won’t have answers for Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson.
